Vehicle body



April 26, 1932. ,1. P. TARBOX VEHICLE BODY Filed sept'. 1, 1927 IN VEN TOR.

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Patented Apr.- 2k6, 1932 lUNITED STATES PATENT 'or JOHN P. TAE-BOX, OE PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNoR TO EDWARD G. lPUD'D PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OE PENN- MLEG. COMPANY, OF PHILADELPHIA, SYLVANIA FICE VEHICLE BODY f Application filed September 1, 1927. Serial No. 216,909.

This invention relates to an automobile body construction of the composite type. The present practice in composite body p vbuilding is to rst form the skeleton Wooden '51 frame of the body, vso shaping and sizing the frame members that the contour of the body and the dimensions of the door and window openings will be defined thereby, and then covering said skeleton frame with sheet metal pane-l strips. This practice has required a large amountof steaming of the frame members to obtain curvature as well as much fine fitting and cutting thereof in defining vthe door and other openings.

l5 posed to eliminate the necessity of accurately constructing the frame by applying thereto a one piece sheet metal stamping having continuous openings formed therein, *they edges of which are flanged to define the j amb and the limits of the opening independently Of the frame. However, since stamping must be drawn to a depth substantially equal to the full depth of thevbody wall there still remains e necessity of imparting curvature to the frame members and also of having such members of relatively thick rectangular section.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a composite body construction wherein the frame and its formation may be greatly simpliled and the rectangular section of the frame'members materially reduced. f

Another important Object is to provide a composite body construction wherein the contour of the body and the limits of the door and window openings will be defined by the sheet metal paneling substantially independently of the Wooden frame. v ,Y Y Y.

Other Objects and advantages will become apparent hereinafter. p

Itis proposed in vcarrying out the invention to construct` the frame of relatively thin rectangular section, the posts being' substantially Y are curved slightly to furnish inpart the longitudinal curvaturejof 'the body. The frame members may be joined together by butt or lap joints and reinforced by suitable brackets. The entire outer panel on each side ofthe body is formed of'a one piece stamp- It has been prostraight while the headers and sills.

ing having openings therein for the closures. The edges of these openings are.` inwardly flanged during the stamping operation, thereby forming continuous jambs for the lateral- Figure l is a side elevational view-of a f body constructed in accordance with the invention; y

Figs. 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6are sectional views taken respectively on the-correspondingsection lines of Fig. l, looking in the direction f of 'the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a detail of the inside of the Vbody at the wheel housing, showing the connection vbetween the rear post and the sill; and

Fig,` 8' is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 8 8 lof Figjl through the body paneling and framing.l

'The framework comprises the sills l0, front or A posts 11, intermediate or B-C posts 12,/and rear door .Or D posts;

13.^ The longitudinally extending 'members 14 form the' roof headers. All of these elements are secured together by eitherV lap or butt joints 'in any well known" manner, and may, whereverk desired, bereinforced by brackets, The D postsare connecfedto the sills'by means of angle brackets 15, which extend downwardly and forwardly from the lowerend of the posts'to allow for the ywheel housing kick-up?. The sills v1,0 n

are bolted or otherwise suitably secured to the chassis members 16,whic'h being ofA angle formation form a support likewise vfor the' floor boards 17. f f u This frame may embrace substantially straight posts since the vertical curvature of the body is'furnislied by the paneling. Itis Y obvious that this 4fact plifies the body construction. sill members need curving to a alone materially sim- Although the `the major portion of the longitudinal curvaslight extent,

. 22 of the panel.

- the post.

ture of the body may also be formed by the paneling. lt should be noted that the frame members are of relatively thin rectangular section thereby greatly reducing the weight of the body, as well as the cost of the material forming the same.

Combined with this frame is the paneling, which is made up of one piece stampings on each side of the body extending from the cowl to the rear part of the tonneau. The stampings, in the instance herein illustrated, are provided with front and rear door open-V ings 18 and 19, respectively, and quarter window openings 20. Of course, it is understood that the openings and their number will vary with the style of body, andthat although a sedan body is shown, the invention is appliccble to other Styles as well. The panel during the stampingoperation is formed at those portions flanking the sills, posts and headers with a general channel cross section.

The portion of the paneladjacentthe A post, while in the general form of a channel, has' the forward part of its base and its forward wall formed on a curveto impart symmetry andgrace -to the body. The rear part 23 of the base is inwardly oset to form a rabbet for the doorl overlap, while the rear wall 274: is provided with a rabbeted flange 25. The panel is secure to the A post by screws or other means extending through the forward wall 22vand the rabbeted flange 25. The forward wall is connected to the front face ofthe post, while-the rabbeted flange is connected to the outer face of the post, having its rear edge turned inwardly to effect a neat joint with Upon the inner face of the Vpost the windshield frame is secured, the forward edge of which extends around the postY in overlapping relation with'the forward wall At the B-C post the panel is of simple channel section, the'base 27 of which lies approximately on a line with the offset base part of the A post panel, so-that the doors n plane of the body. The forward and rearward walls 28 land 2.9 Aare each providedv with rabbeted flanges' `30 and 31 which are secured to the outerface of the post 12. l

The panelingV does not have a channel formation at the D post except at the location Vof the quarter window. It is formed at he other points with an inturned rabbeted flange 32 correspondingto the forward wall of the channel portion adjacentr the window opening. Thev lower part of the panel has the flange 32 forwardly extended and Secured to the bracket 15, in order to allow for the wheel l housing kick-upf. In forming the channel portion of the panel adj acent the window opening the base 33 of the channel is providedwith anV inward offset forming a rabbet for .the door-overlap while thei forward wally34y hasv the r'abbeted flange 35 corresponding to the similar flanges at the other post portions of the panel. The rear wall 36 extends straight inwardly and is secured to the rear face of the post 13 while the flange 35 is secured to the outer face thereof. Superimposed and secured upon the wall 36 is the guide 37 for the sliding` quarter window. Of course, if it was desired to use a laterally movable quarter window the panel could be formed with rabbeted offsets to providev a continuous jamb therefor.

The channelled portion ofthe panel adjacent the header has the inwardly offset base 38 forming a part of the continuous door and window frames, as well as the flanged side wall 39. yThe upper wall 4()v of the channel is attached to the top edge ofthe header Aand the flanged bottom wall 39 to the outer'side thereof. The roof panel 4:1 rests upon `the upper wall Al0 and has its inner` edge downwardly flanged and its outer edge in the 4form 'l o-f a bead, whereby the roof in effect embraces the top of the body;

Along the bottom of the panel.y the channel is formed of a downwardly and inwardly inclined base wall 42- and oppositely flangedl side walls i3 and 44. The flanges formed on such walls-are secured to the outside of the vsills andfhave inwardly bent portions overlying the top and bottomv edges of the sill.Y

ness of the wooden frame me1nbers, for example, the jamb isV formed in the front post region bythe portions 24 andll, at the in.- termediate post-by the portionsr29 or-,28 and 12. and at vtherear-door'post bythe por.-

tions 34 and. 13. In each case the width of:

the jainb is substantially the combined depth ofthe channel formed by rthe outer paneling and the thickness ofthe .wooden frame members. The foregoing description is thought to clearly bring out the-structural features of the embodiment. This invention will be seen to differ materially from other suggested constructions contemplating the .employmentA of paneling formed from one piece stampings so that continuous door` or other frame openings may be provided therein and their limits defined independently Aof the frame. In the heretofore suggested' constructions the stamping is-formed by a deep! draw so that the flanges of the openings will constitute jamb faces of a depth equal to the-,full depth of the body side. 'Howeven the deep drawing of the panel -is attended with difficulty and in addition, theY frame members being of relatively large rectangnlarcross section the weight of the body is increased. -In the present construction the panel, while deliningv the doorV andother openings so that accurate fits will beV obtained for the laterally movable closure members, does not require '13 gitudinally Vof the openings.

in forming the flanges The coacting between the frame and the sheathing or paneling is such that in effect the frame forms a light, thin inner panel for the outer panel, and reduces the depth of the draw of the latter by substantially the thickness of the frame members. This lis accomplished without losing the advantages of having the paneling define the closure openings, since the main or contacting surfaces of the jamb are formed by the panel, and such portions as are of wood are easily accessible. Therefore, the frame does not need to be constructed with that degree of accuracy in cutting and joining usually required in composite body constructions. Furthermore, since the major portion of the body curvature is furnished by the paneling the steaming of the wooden frame members is reduced to a minimum. Since the cross section of the frame members is reduced, the cost thereof, as well as their weight, is naturally lessened besides permitting such members to be of a lower gra-de stock. The construction also effects a still further economy, as well as a convenience, since the frame members eliminate the necessity for upholstery tacking strips.

The advantages of the one piece panel accurately dening the closure openings and capable of being formed in a single stamping operation are so apparent as not to require specific mention. The elimination of the deep draw has already been set forth.

The panel is by itself of great Strength but when connected to the frame, (or by another designation, its inner wooden panel), a box girder structure results at all essential parts of the body.

This construction is of particularadvantage in connection with modern automobile bodies which are of curved contour both vertically and horizontally. o The showing in Figure 1 and in the sections shown in the remaining gures clearly indicates'the application of the invention to this type of body, in which the outer paneling is curved lonand vertically to give the body such depth of draws its contour.

The following claims vare added with the understanding that all modifications and adaptations within their scope form a part of my original invention.

What I claim as new and useful is:

l. An automobile body wall construction comprising a substantially flat rectilinear wooden main frame `member and a sheet metal facing therefor, the sheet metal facing being outwardly bowed to the contour of the body and formed with inwardly extending flanges of a depth less than the thickness of the body wall connected to said frame member to form therewith a hollow frame structure of substantially the full thickness of the body wall. p

Vwardly Vprising a wooden 2. An automobile body construction comprising a wooden main lframe made up of substantially fiat rectilinear members, and

a one piece sheet metal panel lbowed outto give contour vto the body and having a closure opening therein having a transverse extending jamb, the edges of said panel in said opening being in the form of a continuous inturned flange forming part of the jamb and of such proportions that its depth in combination with the thicknessof the frame members adjacent thereto forms a closure jamb of substantially the full thickness of the body wall.

3. An automobile body construction commain frame` made up,y of substantially fiat rectilinear members,and`a one piece sheet metal panel bowed outwardly to give contour to the body and havin those portions which are adapted tolie a jacent the wooden frame members in the formv of yinwardly presenting channels, and so arranged with respect to said frame members that the thickness of the body wall will be equal to the combined depth of the channel and the thickness of the adjacent frame member, whereby the contoured metal panel forms with the adjacent frame members hollow boX sectioned structures.V 4. An automobile body construction comprising a wooden frame, and a one piece sheet metal panel bowed outwardly to give contour to the body, said frame including substantially flat rectilinear vertical and longitudinal members, said panel having a closure opening therein within its outer marginal edges, the marginal outer edges of thev panel and the peripheral edges of the closure openingl ofy the Vpanel being formed into inwardly presenting channels adapted to be secured to said frame members with the .bottoms of the channels spaced fromthe frame members, the combined depth of the channels and the thickness of the frame members defining the thickness of the jamb of the closure opening.

5. An automobile body construction comprising vertical and longitudinal substantially flat rectilinear wooden members forming a frame, a one piece sheet metal panel outwardly bowed to the contour of the body and having a Vclosure opening therein, the pe` ripheral edges of which are in the form of inwardly facing channels, said panel being secured to said frame members by rabbeted flanges on the walls of said channels, and constituting with said frame members a continuous jamb for a .laterally movable closure of a dept V`equal substantially to the combined depth of the channels and the framemembers.`

6. An automobile body comprising a wooden main body frame including sills and post members each composed of substantially rectilinear flat wooden stringers, andY joutwardly bowed metal 'feeings secured to said stringers and constituting the exterior ysurface of said'body Yand giving it contour, and by their'fconnection with the stringers forming therewith hollow frame structures, the dimension transversely of the body Vof the hollow space of said structures varying in accordance withthe outer contour of the Y body; "i0 7 An automobile lbody Comprising a wooden main body frame, the sills and posts of rwhich are each composed of substantially rectilinear flat wooden stringers, and outwardly bowed metal vaoings Yfor said stringers die stamped to have their body portions disposed 'outwardly oiV said stringers, the aeings and stringers being secured together substantially throughout their length to form hollow frainestructures, the dimension transversely of the body of the Vhollow space of said structures varying in Vaccordance with the outerV contour Vof the body.l

In testimony whereof he hereunto ailixes g5 his signature.

JOHN P. TARBUX.

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